2 wt.%) and intercalated nanocomposites for higher clay content
(3 wt.%). To further understand this structure, TEM micrographs of
these nanocomposites were studied.
Fig. 2 shows the TEM of rubber nanoclay composites. In these
micrographs, the bright phase is the matrix and dark phase is the
nanolayers of clays. Only the clay rich zones were captured in TEM
pictures to study the nanocomposite structure and morphology.
Other additives details have not been captured in order to avoid
confusion. In Fig. 2a and b, the nanolayers of clay platelet are
dispersed randomly in the matrix and the structure is an exfoliated
nanocomposite structure and supports XRD data. In Fig. 2c, most of
clays platelets are closely packed for 3 wt.% nanoclay. The
nanolayers of clays are arranged in parallel and forms intercalated
structure.